Firearms to curb poaching

TT,Alipurduar, Nov. 12: The forest department will get 100 automatic firearms that would be distributed among the staff members of the four forest divisions in north Bengal in an attempt to curb poaching. 

Forest minister Binoy Krishna Barman said the department has got approval of the Union home ministry for the project. He, however, did not say when the firearms would be procured or distributed.

“We are worried about the condition of the forests in north Bengal. We have decided to purchase 100 automatic rifles and we have received necessary approval from the Union home ministry. We will select 100 foresters from north Bengal and they will be trained at Barrackpur Police Line. For protection of wild animals, we are giving lot of stress on improvement of joint forest management,” Barman said.

According to a forest officer, Rs 6 crore will be spent for the project. 

From April 2014, 11 rhinos have been killed by poachers in Jaldapara and Gorumara national parks. In the same period, six tuskers have been killed by poachers in Buxa Tiger Reserve. 

Azam Jaidi, the principal chief conservator of forest, said over the phone from Calcutta: “We will provide automatic rifles to 100 staff members. We will train the staff as well. It is a very good move to prevent poaching.”

Buxa, Jaldapara, Gorumsara and Mahananda are the four forest divisions in north Bengal.